Knitting machine



Dec. 25, T945. E. WlLDT ETAL KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 23, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR5,

A TTORNEY Dec. 25, 1945. E. WILDT ET AL KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 23, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZVENTORS,

ATTORNEY,

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KNITTING MACHINE F/GS.

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A 77DRNEY Patented Dec. 25, 1945 2,391,665 KNITTING MACHINE Edwin Wildt, Henry Harold Holmes, and Albert Henry Widdowson, Leicester, England, assignors to Wildt and Company Limited, Leicester, England, a British company Application August 23, 1944, Serial N0. 550,739 In Great Britain September 6, 1943 Claims.

' This invention relates to knitting machines, and has for its object to provide such a machine for producing a knitted fabric of an interlock structure with transferred stitch or locp effects. A fabric of this character forms the subject-matter of our co-pending United States application Serial No. 550,740, August 23, 1944.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the head of a cylinder and dial machine constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a developed view of the cylinder cam system of the machine, as seen from inside the cam box, showing also a few of the cylinder needles and associated jacks,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the dial .cam system,

Figure 4 is a view somewhat similar to the lefthand side of Figure 2 but showing, in addition, the set out of the cylinder and dial needles and the feeders for supply n yarns independently to the respective sets of these needles as will be hereinafter described,

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail perspective view showing a loop in the course of being transferred froiin a cylinder transfer needle to a dial needle, an

Figure 6 is a further detail perspective view showing a dial loop being transferred to a cylinder needle.

Like parts are designated by similar reference characters throughout the drawings.

The machine illustrated includes a cylinder I surrounded by a cam box 2, and a dial 3 surmounted by a dial cam cap 4. The said cylinder and dial are furnished with two sets of needles, one set comprising cylinder needles 5 and dial needles 8 so arranged as to knit a ribbed web of ill rib combination, and the other set comprising cylinder needles 5 and dial needles 8 similarly arranged to knit another ribbed web of the same rib combination. The needles 5 and 5 al. ternate in the cylinder I, while the needles 8 and 6 similarly alternate in the dial 3 so that the dial needles are located directly in line with the cylinder needles as will be clear from a consideration of Figure 4. It is important to note that in this figure the needles are represented in a purely diagrammatic fashion to show the needle set-out more clearly; actually, the alternate cylinder needles instead of being of respectively different lengths as shown in Figure 4, are of the same length as and for the purpose hereinafter explained. In the machine there are also two feeding locations. At one of these there is provided a feeder plate 1 through which a varn 1/ is supplied to the set of needles 5, 6, while at the other location there is a second feeder plate 8 throu h which a yarn 11 is fed independently to the other set of needles 5 6 (see Figure 4).

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cylinder needies 5 are formed with knitting butts 5a disposed to travel in the direction of the arrow A in a track T in the cam box 2, while the alternate cylinder needles 5 are formed with knitting butts 5b disposed in a lower plane to travel in the same direction in a track I in the said box. Moreover, all of the needles in the cylinder are of loop transferring form. Thus, as shown more clearly in Figure 5, each of the said needles includes a loop engaging shoulder to and a loop expanding formation 5d whereby the stitch or loop I to be transferred is engaged and retained in a laterally expanded condition so as to enable it to be entered by the hook of the dial needle to which it is to be transferred. Tofacllltate such entry of a loop by a dial needle hook, each cylinder needle is relieved at the appropriate side thereof in the manner indicated at 5e and also similarly relieved at the opposite side at I! to enable the needle to flex laterally. The main body portion of each of the cylinder needles is made thicker than the corresponding swaged needle hook portion to enable it to be comparatively deeply milled at the two places lie and 5). InFigure 4, the low-v er ends of the cylinder needles 5 and 5 are shown terminated at their respective cam tracks-for the sake of clarity as hereinbefore mentioned:

in practice, however, all of such needles are of the same length to enable them to be used in conjunction withrintermediate selector Jack; I adapted for operation selectively whereby any desired cylinder needle or needles can be caused to transfer a stitch or stitches thereon to a directly opposite dial needle or needles. That is to say, the selection is common to all the cylinder needles, irrespectively as to whether they have knitting butts in the track T or in the track T The cylinder needle selecting mechanism includes an intermittently rotatable selector drum Iii (Figure 1) furnished with bits having butts li'a disposed at different heights according to the selections to be effected. A bank of intermediate selector cams I2 is provided and these cams are adapted to engage with corresponding butts Ila on presser members II located in the cylinder tricks in front of the lower ends of'the Jacks 9. These lower ends of the jacks are resilient and normally sprung outwardly. Each jack 9, moreover, has a lower butt to and an upper butt 9b to engage beneath the associated needle. The construction and arrangement is such that the shaped lower extremities 9c of those jacks which are pressed in by presser members 13 are engaged by the leading edge Ila of a retaining cam I4 and thereafter automatically maintained in that position, whereas the lower butts 9a of the remaining jacks are left in position to be engaged by a jack raising cam I5 (see Figure 2). Whenever a jack is allowed to be raised in this way by the cam IS, the associated cylinder needle will be elevated and its knitting butt engaged by a transfer cam, whereby the needle is further raised to transfer height at which the loop thereon can be penetrated and taken by a dial needle as hereinbefore described. Thus, for those needles having knitting butts 5a in the track T there is a transfer cam 18, whilst a similar transfer cam I1 is provided in the track T for engagement with selected knitting butts 5b at appropriate times for the stated purpose. After cylinder needles have completed a transferring action it is necessary to open the latches 1 thereof, for which purpose there are provided needle raising cams I8 and 19 in the tracks T and T respectively adapted to operate the needles in conjunction with a latch opener-shown diagrammatically and designated by the numeral 20 in Figure 2. The needles are thereafter restored to their normal low level by guard cams 2| and 22. In the track T there are also clearing and stitch cams 23 and 24 respectively for operating the cylinder needles 5, and similar cams 25 and 26 in the track T for operating the needles 5 Somewhat similar arrangements of transfer needles and pattern controlling means may be provided in association with the dial 3 of the machine. Accordingly, in the example illustrated, all of the dial needles 6 and 8 are also of loop transferring form. The needles 6 have knitting butts 6a accommodated in a track DT, whilst the intervening dial needles 8 have knitting butts 6b accommodated in a track DT In the track DTthere is a clearing cam 21, a stitch cam 28, a latch opener cam 29 and a transfer cam 30. Similarly, in the track DT there is a clearing cam 3|, a stitch cam 32, a latch opener cam 33 and a transfer cam 3|. In conjunction with the dial cam system there is provided a needle selecting mechanism of the character described in our U. S. Patent No. 2,153,019. Some of the selectors included in this mechanism are indicated at 35 in each of Figures 1 and 3, To economise space in the drawing these selectors are shown close to the dial. In the transference of dial loops dl to cylinder needles, the knitting butts of the dial needles concerned are brought by the corresponding selectors 35 into the range of the relevant dial transfer cams which function to advance the said dial needles to such an extent that cylinder needles at that moment passing up the rise of a cam 36 (or 31) provided in the cylinder cam system will enter the dial loops in the manner shown in Figure 6. After a dial needle has completed a transferring operation it is withdrawn by a cam 38 or 39, as the case may be.

Whenever selected cylinder needles are raised to transfer their loops to dial needles the latter are there to receive these loops by reason of being advanced by a cam 40 or 4|.

The machine hereinbefore described may be equipped with plating mechanism such as the embroidery mechanism described in the specification of co-pending United States application Serial No. 551,518, August 28, 1944. Alternatively, more particularly as regards a machine of the cylinder and dial type adapted to produce interlock fabric as hereinbefore set forth, the embroidery mechanism may be generally of that form specifically described with reference to the drawings in United States specification No. 2,342,541.

It will be understood that where a needle loop (e. 8. plain) is transferred, the needle from which this loop has been removed takes ground yarn at the next course but has no old loop thereon to pull the yarn through. Consequently, in effect, a relatively wide sinker loop is formed between the preceding and succeeding (e. g. rib) loops in the same course, but at the next course a new 1 0p (e, g. plain) is pulled through this wider loop.

For example, Figure 7 shows a vertical sectional elevation of the head of the machine similar to Figure 1 and to the same scale, but with the essential part of an embroidery mechanism added.

A cylinder b is fixed to a gear a so that it is driven with the needle cylinder i and needle dial 3. I

A bearing 0 supports and locates the cylinder b to enable feeder d to take up its correct location in relation to the needle 5 shown dotted in thread wrapping position.

A fulcrum f allows the feeder d to be moved back and forth when operated by any type of selector acting on butts e to move the wrapping portion g of the feeder d, the portion a being twisted, as is common practice to pass needle hook on opposite sides during the movement of the feeder. A retaining spring h secures the feeder d in correct location.

A bobbin rack i is secured to the gear a. The rack carries a bobbin :1 the yarn of which passes through a guide 122 on the inside of cylinder to the feeder end 0.

As will be appreciated, there may be as many embroidery thread feeders d and bobbins d as needles, or any lesser number, according to requirements.

What we claim then is:

1. In a knitting machine, in combination, a plain needle bed, an associated rib needle bed, needles for operation in said beds, the plain and rib needles being arranged in two independently operable sets with one half of each set of needles in alternating relationship in one bed and the remainder of each set in similar relationship in the other bed, so as to be capable of knitting two interlocked ribbed webs, and each of desired needles in at least one of the sets being of loop transferring form in which connection it includes a loop engaging catch and a loop expanding formation whereby upon appropriate endwise movement of such needle a loop can be engaged, expanded and retained so as to enable it to be entered by an appropriate receiving needle, yarn feeding means for introducing yarns independently to the respective sets of needles, corresponding sets of cam systems for causing the respective sets of needles to knit, and loop transferring mechanism including means for imparting the aforesaid endwise movement to the transfer needles, for the purpose herein specified.

2. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a cylinder, plain needles in said cylinder, a dial, rib needles in said dial, the said plain and rib needles being arranged in two independently operable sets wherein the needles of one set alternate with the needles of the other set in both the cylinder and the dial so that the rib needles are located directly in line with the plain needles, and each of desired needles in at least one of the sets being of loop transferring form in which connection it includes a loop engaging catch and a loop expanding formation whereby upon appropriate endwise movement of such needle a loop can be engaged, expanded and retained so as to enable it to be entered by an appropriate receiving needle, yarn feeding means at at least two locations for supplying yarns independently to the respective sets of needles, different sets of cams for operating the said sets of needles and causing them to knit, and means for operating desired transfer needles suchwise that knitted loops thereon are transferred to directly opposite needles.

3. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a cylinder, plain needles in said cylinder, a cam box which surrounds the cylinder and is provided with cams for operating the plain needles, a dial, rib needles in said dial, a cam cap associated with the dial and provided with cams for operating the rib needles, the said plain and rib needles being arranged in two independently operable sets wherein the needles of one set alternate with the needles of the other set in both the cylinder and the dial, so that the rib needles are located directly in line with the plain needles and each of desired needles in at least one of the sets being of loop transferring form in which connection it includes a loop engaging catch and a loop expanding formation whereby upon appropriate endwise movement of such needle a loop can be engaged, expanded and retained so as to enable it to be entered by an appropriate receiving needle, spaced feeders at which yarns are supplied independently to the respective sets of needles, the needles in the said sets being provided with butts in two different planes and prearranged in the cylinder and dial in conjunction with systems of the aforesaid cams respectively disposed in the cam box and dial cam cap and having two separate tracks for the butts in the different planes suchwise that the two sets of needles knit respectively at the spaced feeders, and means for so operating desired transfer needles that knitted loops thereon are transferred to directly opposite needles.

4. In a knitting machine, in combination, a plain needle bed, an associated rib needle bed, needles for operation in said beds, the plain and rib needles being arranged in two independently operable sets with one half of each set of needles in alternating relationship in one bed and the remainder of each set in similar relationship in the other bed, so as to be capable of knitting two interlocked ribbed webs, and each of desired needles in at least one of the sets being of loop transferring form in which connection it includes a loop engaging catch and a loop expanding formation whereby upon appropriate endwise movement of such needle a loop can be engaged, expanded and retained so as to enable it to be entered by an appropriate receiving needle, yarn feeding means for introducing yarns independently to the respective sets of needles, corresponding sets of cam systems for causing the respective sets of needles to knit, loop transferring mechanism including means for imparting the aforesaid endwise movement to the transfer needles, for the purpose herein specified, and means for selectively operating the transfer needles.

5. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a cylinder, plain needles in said cylinder, a cam box which surrounds the cylinder and is pro vided with cams for operating the plain needles, a dial, rib needles in said dial, a cam cap associated with the dial and provided with cams for operating the rib needles, the said plain and rib needles being arranged in two independently operable sets wherein the needles of one set alternate with the needles of the other setiin both the cylinder and the dial so that the rib needles are located directly in line with the plain needles and all of the needles in the cylinder being of loop transferring form in which connection each of the cylinder needles includes a loop engaging catch and a loop expanding formation whereby upon appropriate endwise movement of such needle a loop can be engaged, expanded and retained so as to enable it to be entered by an appropriate receivlng dial needle, alternate plain needles, moreover, having knitting butts in an upper track and the intervening plain needles similar knitting butts in a lower track in cam systems in the. aforesaid cam box, yarn feeding means for introducing yarns independently to the respective sets of needles, and means for so operating desired plain needles that knitted loops thereon are transferred to directly opposite rib needles, all for the purposes herein described.

6. In a circular knitting machine, in combination a cylinder, plain needles in said cylinder, a cam box which surrounds the cylinder and is provided with cams for operating the plain needles a dial, rib needles in said dial, a cam cap associated with the dial and provided with cams for operating the rib needles, the said. plain and rib needles being arranged in two independently operable sets wherein the needles of one set alternate with the needles of the .other set in both the cylinder and the dial so that the rib needles are located directly in line with the plain needles and all of the needles in the cylinder being of loop transferring form in'which connection each of the cylinder needles includes a loop engaging catch and a loop expanding formation whereby upon appropriate endwise movement of such needle a loop can be engaged, expanded and retained so as to enable it to be entered by an appropriate receiving dial needle, alternate plain needles, moreover, having knitting butts in an upper track and the intervening plain needles similar knitting butts in a lower track in cam systems in the aforesaid camv box, yarn feeding means for introducing yarns independently to the respective sets of needles, a set of jacks with patterning butts thereon for actuating the transfer needles, means for action on these butts to effect a selection of said jacks, a cam which'is adapted to raise certain of the Jacks and to miss others as determined by the selection, and a transfer cam in each of the aforesaid tracks for raising selected plain needles to such a height as to enable loops thereon to be entered and received by directly opposite rib needles, all for the purposes herein described.

'7. In a knitting machine, in combination, a plain needle bed, an associated rib needle bed, needles of the latch type for operation in said beds, the plain and rib latch needles being arranged in two independently operable sets with one half of each set of needles in alternating relationship in one bed and the remainder of each set in similar relationship in the other bed, so as to be capable of knitting two interlocked ribbed webs, and each of desired needles in at least one of the sets being of loop transferring form in which connection it includes a loop engaging catch and a loop expanding formation whereby upon appropriate endwise movement of such needle a loop can be engaged, expanded and retained so as to enable it to be entered by an appropriate receiving needle, yarn feeding means for introducing yarns independently to the respective sets of needles, corresponding sets of cam systems for causing the respective sets of needles to knit, loop transferring mechanism including means for imparting the aforesaid endwise movement to the transfer needles, means for opening the latches of those needles from which loops have been transferred, and cam means for operating such needles in conjunction with said latch opening means.

8. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a cylinder, plain needles in said cylinder, a dial, rib needles in said dial, the said plain and rib needles being arranged in two independently operable sets wherein the needles of one set alternate with the needles of the other set in both the cylinder and the dial so that the rib needles are located directly in line with the plain needles, and each of desired needles in at least one of the sets being of loop transferring form in which connection it includes a loop engaging catch and 2' loop expanding formation whereby upon appropriate endwise movement of such needle a loop can be engaged, expanded and retained so as to enable it to be entered by an appropriate receiving needle, yarn feeding means at at least two locations for supplying yarns independently to the respective sets of needles, different sets of cams for operating the said sets of needles and causing them to knit, means for operating desired transfer needles suchwise that knitted loops thereon are transferred to directly opposite needles, means for opening the latches of those needles from which loops have 40 been transferred, and cam means for operating such needles in conjunction with said latch openmg means,

9. In a knitting machine, in combination, a plain needle bed, an associated rib needle bed, needles for operation in said beds, the plain and rib needles being arranged in two independently operable sets with one half of each set of needles in alternating relationship in one bed and the remainder of each set in similar relationship in the other bed, so as to be capable of knitting two interlocked ribbed webs, yarn feeding means for introducing yarns independently to the respective sets of needles, corresponding sets of cm systems for causing the respective sets of needles to knit, loop transferring means for producing transferred loop effects in at least one of the aforesaid webs, and wrap mechanism for presenting embroidery thread to and causing same to be knitted by desired needles.

10. In a knitting machine, in combination, a plain needle bed, an associated rib needle bed, needles for operation in said beds, the plain and rib needles being arranged in two independently operable sets with one half of each set of needles in alternating relationship in one bed and the remainder of each set in similar relationship in the other bed, so as to be capable of knitting two interlocked ribbed webs, yarn feeding means for introducing yarns independently to the respective sets of needles, corresponding sets of cam systems for causing the respective sets of needles to knit, and combined wrap and loop transferring mechanisms arranged to present embroidery thread and transferred loops to desired and the same needles. for the purposes herein specified.

EDWIN WILDT. HENRY HAROLD HOLMES. ALBERT HENRY Wl'DDOWBON. 

